Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us………..

Ephesians 5:1-2a

In Genesis, we read that the Lord God told Adam, “because you have listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, Do not eat from it: the ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”

Now many will say, after reading this passage, God is mean, unjust, and just cruel. If He is so nice, you would think He would have told Adam, this is only your first mistake, I will give you another chance.

But God is just, and if you are just, you have to do the right and just thing, the law demands it. If you did not, then you are not just.

The Lord God, who created Adam told Adam up front, before hand, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For on the day you eat from it, you shall certainly die.” What did the Lord God actually say to Adam, “All these trees, here in the garden, you can freely eat from; all of them. But there is one that will cause you to die, don’t eat from that tree. I have given you life, but this fruit, that offers the knowledge of good and evil (Law), causes death.”

Before Adam gained the knowledge of the law. In God’s holiness, God only had to share His grace with Adam, not His justice. Paul clearly gives us the reason the Lord God told Adam not to eat from that tree. The law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15

What we also neglect to read, and understand, is the Lord God firstly told the serpent (Satan), “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility(enmity) between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. (just a note: the woman does not have seed, the man does. The Lord God was letting us know right from the beginning that a miraculous (virgin) birth would occur).He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. ”God was telling Satan that a man, born of a woman, will someday deliver a mortal blow to Satan. In this same verse, the Lord God is telling everyone, that Yeshua the Messiah (the Christ), Jesus Christ, will someday come and defeat Satan, along with the sin that Adam just committed, and death because of the knowledge of good and evil. In Christ, the Lord God would once again, in grace, meet, walk, and talk with His creation

I have been a Christian now for 38 years. I put my faith in Jesus Christ when I was 34 years old. Over these last 38 years, I have heard a certain theme about God. He is mean, demanding, unjust, angry, kills people, often good people, and even lets children starve. Many who think this, who believe this, I have found never studied, much less read, the only Book that actually reveals who God is.

There are some who claim they have read the Bible, but also say it was for the purpose of finding errors in it. And there are others who have started out with that same purpose, and have come to believe the Bible is the perfect, inerrant Word of God. There are others who believe, but do not read the Bible. Often I have found that it is because they are just not readers. However they believe and are often eager to hear and know more about the Bible. Then there are others who were told about the wonderful love that God has for them. And because of His love, He sent his Son, to pay for the sin Adam did, and all the sins they have done. They believed what they heard, and then began reading about it, in the Bible.

Of course there our also those that I have met, that do not believe there is such a thing as sin, or say they have never sinned. To these people I only remind them of what the Apostle John wrote. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1John 1:8.With that said, I cannot stop there, but must tell you the next thing John said. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9

One does not have to read the Bible to be saved, it is Jesus Christ who saves. Yet by reading about this love that God shows to His creation, in Christ; gives the believing reader the opportunity, and ability to grow in that faith.

If one reads the Bible, one would find out that it is the devil that had the power of death.Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself (Christ) in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is the devil. And might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15.

It is Satan that hates what the Lord God created and has always wanted the human race dead. It is Adams original sin that caused a curse on the earth. It is because of that sin, we see disease, sickness, hate, and everything that lends itself to the destruction of human life. The good news is, Christ took the power of death from the devil, and offers life, health, and His love to all.

Now as for God being mean, demanding, unjust, angry, kills people, often good people, and even lets children starve. To those accusations, I say the law is demanding, we are unjust, and usually angry. People kill people, and it is people who cause children to starve.

God causes the crops to grow every year in most places around the world. The world grows more food for every man, woman, and child than we can eat. The world produces enough food to feed everyone. (www.worldhunger.org) The principle problem is that many people in the world still do not have sufficient income to purchase (or land to grow) enough food.(www.worldhunger.org)

Yet,the United States alone sends thousands and thousands of tons offree foodto starving nations every year, yet the children continue starve. Those who receive and hand out that food though, seem never to starve. The leaders of those poor starving countries, never look like they are starving. Why is that? Have you ever asked yourself that question.

Let me finish with this; why do so many hate God and will not read the Bible? Well the Bible gives us the answer. For when they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in there imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds and four footed beasts and creeping things. Romans 1

This same Bible tells us also how much God loves us, and His whole creation. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

I hope all of you SLL/CLL and CLL patients are doing well. Lot of great news in the advancements of new medicines. Iburtnib has been giving good results, and has been approved for sale in the USA. It had been approved originally, for only chromosome 17p patients, but I believe it now approved for all chromosome deletions. Please correct if I am wrong on the approval for all patients. Also I have been reading that a Phase 1 trial of second generation BTL inhibitor, ACP-196, and has been demonstrating some very good results.

DATE

WBC

HGB

PLT

ALC

Lymphocytes/

12/26/10

15.6

12.8

87

4.3

100 Leukocytes

01/10/11

15.8

13.3

112

4.3

27.00%

01/19/11

11.7

13.1

78

4.2

36.00%

02/17/11

12.5

13.7

87

4.5

36.00%

05/12/11

11.6

11.9

77

5.5

47.00%

08/08/11

13.3

12.4

85

7.63

09/08/11

18.5

12.9

63

13.5

10/20/11

15.7

12.1

60

8.6

55.00%

12/21/11

13.4

11.9

64

7.85

58.00%

01/06/12

12.5

11.7

63

62.00%

01/26/12

11.1

11.1

62

8.4

04/26/12

11

11.4

54

7.4

67.00%

05/25/12

11.7

11.1

53

8.1

69.00%

06/22/12

12.4

11.4

59

8.7

70.00%

Started eating

08/19/12

9.7

10.7

63

5.9

Bitter

12/03/12

9.1

11.1

73

5.1

55.00%

Apricot Seeds

03/04/13

6.1

10.3

63

2.94

48.10%

06/02/12

06/03/13

6.6

11

72

2.6

44.20%

08/08/13

6.4

11.1

101

1.89

29.70%

09/05/13

5.8

11.9

88

1.59

27.40%

12/05/13

5.5

12.7

88

1.29

23.70%

03/05/14

5.8

12.8

80

1.21

20.70%

08/14/14

3.9

12.8

85

0.89

22.60%

09/05/14

6.8

12.7

80

0.92

14.50%

Normal WBC

Normal HGB

Normal PLT

Normal ALC

Normal Ly

4.0-10.6

12.8-17.0

150

1.0-3.7

16.2% to 48.2%

As you can see from my last results, my blood readings are staying fairly close to normal, with the exception of course, my platelets. My lymph-nodes went back to normal well over a year ago, and are still that way. My spleen is just a bit enlarged over normal, but undetected to the touch.

I have cut back from eating 18 bitter apricot seeds, to 15 a day. I would like to see my ALC numbers get back into the normal range. Even though they are low, I see that my white blood cell count is in the normal range, and I am thankful that I have no infections, nor illnesses, like any of the current bugs, that are going around. With all of the illnesses around me, I think of Psalms 91:1-4 (AMP). He who dwells in the secret place of the most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty (Whose power no foe can withstand). I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him I lean and rely, and in Him I (confidently) trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.

All in all, I am feeling fantastic. I will be seeing my Oncologist in March, I am looking forward to seeing what my blood counts will be.

Peter said, “Repent and be baptized …………” If you were like me, you were told that this meant that you first change the way you do things, then you get baptised for the remission of sins. However the Greek word used for repent is matanoeo, which means to change one’s mind, or to think differently. It has nothing to do with changing things, but thinking differently (or changing your way of thinking.)

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave He ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons wh need no repentance. Luke 15

Wait one minute, where and when did this lost sheep repent? In this whole story, I read no where that this lost sheep repented. This lost sheep did not change direction and try to come home. This lost sheep did not say it was sorry for going astray. This lost sheep did nothing but let his Shepard put him on his shoulders. It was the Shepard who rejoiced. It was the Shepard who carried the lost sheep home. It was the Shepard who calls all his friends and neighbors together asking them to rejoice with him, because he had found his lost sheep.

All this lost sheep did, was to rely on his Shepard to do everything.

So what is repentance? Relying on the Good Shepard, Jesus Christ to do everything. It is changing our minds from what we must do to be saved, to what Christ has done to save us.

For I would not brethren, have you ignorant of my affliction which came to me by way of cancer. That I was pressed out of measure, beyond strength, insomuch that I despaired even of life. But I had the sentence of death on myself, that I should not trust in myself, but in God which raiseth the dead. Who delivered me from so great a death, and continues to deliver:

Paul writes these words in First Corinthians 1:8-10a. The only difference being, where I said I, he says us, and cancer in place of Asia.

December 25, 2010, I was told that I had stage 4 cancer and I was devastated. Later I was told, you have stage 4 lymphoma cancer and leukemia (SLL/CLL). Like most, I tried to keep most of my fears inside, not wanting the world to know my apprehensions. Plus I was told that the kind of cancer I had, would take a long time to attrition. I was even told that probably something else would kill me before my cancer did. Yet at that time, the thought of my life here in this body, coming to and end, troubled me greatly.

As I became more knowledgeable about the cancer I had, I began to realize that not everything my doctors were telling me were complete. The more I found out, the more I realized that my death, may be sooner than later.

It was certainly true that many with the cancer I have, live long lives. As much as twenty-five years and ever more after diagnosis. But I found, that within my type of cancer, there are many factors that determine life expectancy. Also after being told that it would be many years before anything would be needed to be done. I was told just after eight months from diagnosis, that I would need to start chemotherapy.

After having a test called FISH (florescence in situ hybridization), which is used to look at genes or chromosomes in cells and tissues. I asked about my results, and was told I had a 92% deletion of the 17p chromosome. That put me in the high risk category for a very aggressive cancer. Upon questioning my Oncologist further, it was finally told to me that chemotherapy usually has no effect. Eventually I was told in June of 2012 that the only course of action left for me, was a stem cell transplant, or a clinical trial. Currently there are other treatments now, and good ones, Ibrutinib being just one.

Being to old for a successful stem cell transplant, a clinical trial was the only thing left. After being told sorry, the trial I was signed up for, had been filled, I felt a very deep feeling of loss.

Well the rest of the story I have written about in previous blogs, so I will not repeat myself. But after almost two and half years from that feeling of loss, I quote those verses above. For my Father in heaven, gave me the trust in Him, I needed. He is the One who loves me, and everyone else, more that we can imagine. How do I know this, because He sent his only begotten, only beloved son, to take our place. He, Jesus the Christ received condemnation, we received forgiveness. He, Jesus the Christ, received death, we received life.

Now it is true, that many will not, and do not accept or believe this. But for those who do believe, then His condemnation gives them forgiveness, and His death, gives them life, and that life is to be with Him forever.

I have heard it said, “It is a cancer that doesn’t kill you.” I know this is said with well meaning in mind. But this cancer has no mercy, and does kill everyday. I know, I have spoken with many in these past years, who have died because of it.

It has also been said, “positive thinking has really made a change for you. ”I have no positive thinking or positive thought concerning my cancer. I say, “have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” and He does daily. I say “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise.” and He does.

The centurion tells Jesus that his servant is at home sick. Jesus says, I will come and heal him.

Thank you Lord, my prayer is that all would know the immeasurable and eternal love you have for them.

Well, after six months, I had blood taken, and the results were just wonderful again. I seem to be doing very well. My platelets are still below minimum, but far above what they were two years ago. I thank the God of Israel for continuing good health.

I have a grandson by the name of Isaac, (which means, to laugh) and often when I think about him, I am reminded of the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. And as I was happy when Isaac was born, Abraham and Sarah laughed with joy, and was happy when their Isaac was born.

As you may recall, God put Abraham to a test. He told Abraham to take his only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering.

Abraham did as God instructed him. So when Abraham and Isaac got to the top of the mountain, Isaac said to his father, “Father, behold the fire and the wood: but where is the burnt offering?” Abraham’s reply was, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”

As all of you know, just as Abraham was about to plunge the knife into Isaac, an angel of the LORD, called unto Abraham and said, “Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know you yare’ (fear, revere, or stand in awe of) me.”

When we read about this moment in history, many wonder how God, could not have known, that Abraham, already stood in awe of Him. Yet we know that God is omniscient, and that He already knew, that Abraham, reverenced Him. We also know that Abraham was called a friend of God, and believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, “That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.” For he reasoned that God was able to raise Isaac up even from among the dead, from whence he also received him in a figure. The word figure, is translated from the Hebrew word parabole, which means parable. Now a parable, in layman’s terms, is known as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

So why did the Spirit of God have this story written down?

God was showing Abraham, His plan of salvation for all, and is now giving Israel and us, an earthly account of what He was already doing in heaven. He was showing us by the story of Isaac, how much He loves us, and that He was sending His son, whom He loved. His only begotten son, to be our sacrificial lamb. As the ram was a substitute for Isaac, so the Son of God would be a substitute for us.

This story always reminds me of the unfathomable love, that the God of Israel, has for you and me. In this telling of Abraham and Isaac, his only beloved son, we clearly can see Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, who was sacrificed for our sins.

The LORD of all creation, shows us what He has done, even before time began. He shows us in Isaac, how He gave His only beloved son, that as He provided a ram for Abraham, He has provided a lamb, the Lamb of God, a sacrifice for us.

Justice was served by a just and holy God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in all His love and grace, for us, gave His only begotten Son, to take all the sins, sickness, hatreds, and wrongs, that we, His created did, do, and will do, and placed them on His only begotten son, a sacrifice, to satisfy and fulfil the Law.

Jesus Christ (Jehoshua the Messiah), he who was without sin, knows that sin is so evil, so hideous, so deadly, that no one but Himself would ever be able to pay for it. He stood in our place, hanging on a tree, so the payment required for sin, and that last enemy of God, death, would be defeated.

Death claimed its victim, and justice was paid, by the Creator of all things. He who loves us more than we know; He who holds all thing together, raised the Son from the dead, and death was forever defeated. And He proclaimed that all who would call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, would be saved from this death.

Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

So when I think about my grandson Isaac, I am always reminded of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The one who loves us and showers us daily with His grace.

I would like to tell you a story I have read many times. It is an old story, written very long ago, a story that everyone should know. It is a story, about a woman who lived in a different culture from ours. A culture that did not encourage, nor accept adultery. This culture actually made it a serious crime to commit adultery, the punishment being death by stoning.

The woman I had read about, knew the consequences if she were caught committing adultery. It seemed though, even with that knowledge, she still was unable to stop. She may have secretly met a man, and maybe spent the whole night with him. Everytime she did this, did she think in the back of her mind, “what if I get caught?” But even with this thought in her mind, she could not stop.

While thinking about this woman, and what she had done, makes me ask this question. How should we judge this woman? Before you answer, let me tell you the rest of the story.

One day her greatest fear happened, she got caught, right in the act. And worse yet, she had been caught by people who knew what punishment for adultery was.

At this time another man was in the city, called the Teacher. He was known to be well versed in the law of that day. Those who caught this woman, in the act of adultery, seeked him out, and dragged this woman, throwing her at his feet. They told him that they had caught her right in the act of adultery. At this point, she knew the trial had begun and this man at whose feet she kneeled, was her judge.

They said, “Teacher this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act of it. “The law commands us that she should be stoned.” “What do you say?’ With hearing that, she braced herself for the condemning words, and then the stones that would crush her body. She knew the pain would be terrible, only stopping when she was dead.

But there was silence. Did this Teacher hear what they said? Wondering what was happening, she glanced to her side, and saw this man stooping down, and begin writing something, on the ground, using only his finger. Those around, standing there with stones ready, again asked, “What do you say Teacher?” This man they called Teacher, then stood up, and with what seemed like a soft and comforting voice to her. Said “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone.” With that said, he stooped down again and resumed writing on the ground.

This woman must have tightened her body even harder, waiting for that first stone to hit her. While she waited, she probably began thinking, who is this man? She had heard about a man in the area that was kind to everyone he met. Was this him, she wondered. As she thought about who this man was, she heard stones dropping to the ground, none hitting her. She then heard footsteps, fading in the distance, as all those with stones at the ready, walked away.

As she looked at the Teachers sandals, a hand placed under her jaw, gently raised her head. As she looked upon this man, she saw a face of compassion, acceptance, and love. Now that her fear was gone, she began sobbing, tears filling her face, gasps of breath coming from her mouth. Then he spoke, and asked, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?” “Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord.” she answered. She had heard her accusers addressing him as Teacher, but she thought that this is no ordinary man and answered with, Lord. That is when she heard words that she would never, ever forget. “Then neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” She knew that this man had just saved her life, and it changed her for the rest of hers.

What happened here? This woman knew the law, but still she broke it. Obviously the threat of the law was not able to stop this women from sinning. Knowing that she deserved, according to the law, to be stoned to death, realized that he had accepted her, just the way she was.

Looking back at this story, and every other story I read about this man. I never see him condemning anyone, with only one exception. The religious ones, those who depended on their own righteousness. He did not ask the woman, why she sinned. All he asked her was, “where are those who accuse you?” Was Jesus as concerned with the condemnation of the sin, as with the sin itself? She certainly did not walk away from that episode feeling condemned by him.

Do you feel condemned by everyone, including yourself? Jesus offers a gift of no condemnation, and he can. It is he who would pay for it at the cross. All your sins were brought to bear upon him. All your sins, sicknesses, pains, sorrows, and much, much more. Sins that caused his Father to turn from him, and turn toward you. Him dying, you coming to life.

Know today, that we have no ability to keep God’s law perfectly. It is Jesus and only him who is the fulfillment of the law. In Christ, we are all on equal ground. If a brother or sister, gets tangled in sin, remind them that there is no condemnation found in Jesus.

And remember dear Christian, firstly, your good standing in Christ, and second, always judge your own actions by your standing in Christ, but never judge your standing in Christ by your actions.

Knowing and believing this gift of forgiveness that the Father gave us, by the payment of death, His son Jesus Christ paid.

I ended my last blog by agreeing the law is divine and whole. I also said the law has no right to tell me I must be justified by it. I said it has a right to tell me how to live, but it has no right to tell me it delivers me from sin, death, and hell.

With that thought, I concluded that we are justified by faith alone.

In Galatians 1:16, Paul says “for by the works of the law shall no one be justified.” So when we talk about justification, good works or the law, cannot to be discussed concerning justification.

So lets start with the law. We know that the law requires perfect obedience. It condemns all who do not accomplish this perfect obedience. The law cannot justify, it can only condemn according the Galatians 3:10. “Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

The purpose of the law is to reveal sin. In other words, the law is to lead us out of the security of our self-trust, into trusting Jesus Christ only.

I wish that every Christian would know the difference between the law and grace, and know it well. The right separation between Law and Gospel is very important to know. Do not drag good works or the law into the truth of justification.

I do not want anyone to think that the Law is no longer working. It is, it continues to work in all who have not put their faith in Christ, but it cannot work in the Christian, because the Christian is dead to the law. Romans 7:4 “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

So after the law drove me into the arms of Christ, I yelled out that I have nothing to do with the law anymore. I am dead to the law, and that means that I am free of the law. Yet I say the Law continues to exist and to function, but no longer for me.

I am often accused that by preaching this Gospel of Grace, some if not many misinterpret it. It is true that some may use the Gospel of Grace for malicious reasons, saying “now that I am no longer under the law, I can sin freely. I personally know no one who reasons this way, but if I did, I would say to them, “to reason this way is reckless.” I will also say, “if some use my preaching to sin more, should I then discontinue preaching the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? My answer to that is no, absolutely no. Paul was presented with this same argument, Romans 3:8, “Let us do evil, that good may come,” and in Romans 6:1, “shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound.” Paul’s answer to that was, “God forbid.” Yet he continued to preach this Gospel. In fact it ultimately cost him his life.

Then there are others who are not malicious, only weak, who take offense when told that the Law and good works are unnecessary for salvation. It is to them that I now write too. Hoping that they will understand why good works do not justify, but why they must be done. Good works do not cause righteousness, but are the fruit of righteousness. When we are made righteous by Christ first, then we are able and willing to do good.

Blessed is the Christian who knows how to use this truth in times of distress. That person can say, “Mr. Law, go ahead and accuse me as much as you like. My conscience, my new life, lives to Christ under another law, a new and better law, the law of grace.” Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free.

Paul thereby declares in verse 20 that “it was Christ who loved me, and gave himself for me.” He says that it was Jesus Christ that began the good work in me, it was not me that began the good work. He found me, with a sinful mind, and of no good will, but He had mercy on me. Out of pure kindness, He loved me. He loved me so much that He gave Himself for me, that I should be free from the Law, from sin, and death.

Ask yourself, “did the Law ever love me? Did the Law ever sacrifice itself for me? Did the Law ever die for me? No, it only accused me, frightened me, and drove me crazy. It was someone, that saved me from the Law, sin and death, unto eternal life. That someone is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and glory forever.

After we realize the truth that becoming a Christian is to be justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the works of the law. We then can start talking about and teaching good works, but they must be taught in their proper turn. What do I mean? I will discuss the law, or good works, only when we are not talking about justification.

So again I conclude that the true Gospel is; we are justified by faith alone, without the deeds of the law.

I have been spending a lot of time lately thinking about Christians. That is, I have not been thinking about those who by words, say they are Christians. I have been thinking about those who have faith, in Jesus Christ. I have been thinking about those who by faith believe He was God in the flesh, and is God. By faith that He died and was raised again, and believe by faith, that in Him and Him only is salvation.

I began wondering how do these Christians understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

With that thought, I began to think about those early Galatian Christians, where legalist came into the Galatian church and began preaching that they needed the law to complete their faith in Christ for salvation. Because of that false teaching, Paul wrote a letter to them.

In that letter, he begins by telling them that Christ won the victory over the law, sin, and death. “Paul and apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” He then greets those Christians in the Galatian church, by writing, “Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then not very far into his letter, He calls these legalist, teachers of the law, false apostles.

Grace remits sin, and peace quiets the conscience. Sin and conscience can torment us, but Christ has overcome these fiends now and forever. Grace involves the remission of sins, and peace, a happy conscience. Sin is not canceled by lawful living, for no person is able to live up to the law. The law reveals guilt, and fills us with despair. Grace and peace make a person strong, and courageous to bear and to overcome all difficulties, because we have the victory of Christ’s death and the assurance of the forgiveness of our sins.

Sin cannot harm those who believe in Christ, because He has overcome sin by His death. The genius of Christianity takes the words of Paul “who gave himself for our sins” as true and efficacious.

The false apostles objection to Paul’s Gospel is identical to that recorded in the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Acts to the effect that it was not enough for the Galatians to believe in Christ, or to be baptized. But that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

I must say that every teacher of work-righteousness is a trouble maker. Paul continues in verse 7 to say that they pervert the Gospel of Christ, or in other words, “these false apostles do not merely trouble you, they abolish Christ’s Gospel.

Christ and the law cannot dwell side by side in the conscience. It is either grace or law. To muddle the two is to eliminate the Gospel of Christ entirely. To mix law and Gospel not only clouds the knowledge of grace, it cuts out Christ altogether.

The Bible clearly teaches that we are all naturally depraved. Let man’s free will, strength, wisdom, and righteousness be condemned. We attain grace by the free mercy of God alone for Christ’s sake. I know this is a hard saying to hear, and brings disfavor to those who say it. But I am reminded of what a preacher, not so long ago said, “If you preach the Gospel of Grace, and no one condemns you, then you are not preaching the same Gospel of Grace that Paul preached.”

The truth of justification is fragile. Not that justification itself is fragile, for it is not. Ah, but our knowledge of it is. I know how quickly we can forfeit the joy of the Gospel in the midst of trouble. In those times of conflict, we should be consoling ourselves with the Gospel.

Knowing that the flesh resists the Spirit, or as Paul puts it, “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.” We by our own reasoning, say that to know Christ, and to believe in Him is no achievement of man, but the gift of God. This Gospel of Grace gives glory to God alone, and none to man. Never can too much glory, goodness, and mercy be ascribed unto God.

On the question of justification, one must remain solid, or else we lose the truth of the Gospel. It is a matter of life and death. It involves the death of the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world. If we surrender faith in Christ, as the only thing that can justify us, then the death and resurrection of Jesus are without meaning.

Some will tell me the Law is divine and holy, and to that I agree. So it is divine and holy, but it has no right to tell me that I must be justified by it. The Law has a right to tell me that I should love God, and my neighbor. It has every right to tell me that I should live in chastity, temperance, patience and so on. But it has no right to tell me how I may be delivered from sin, death, and hell. It is the business of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to tell me that. We must listen to the Gospel, for it tells us not what we must do, but what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has done for us.

I conclude that the true Gospel is; we are justified by faith alone, without the deeds of the law.

Good day to all of you. It is another lovely day here in the southeast. It is my hope that all of you have a safe and blessed day.

As the news of my improving health situation, has become known by more and more people. I have come to realize that some, actually many, have thought this improvement may have been because of my faith. I hope to answer this thought, about my faith, and improved health by giving you another perspective to its success. I will explain the process I went though, in making the decision to eat apple and apricot seeds.

My decision was based on what God had Moses write in His word (Bible). After looking at all the information on the internet concerning apricot seeds, listening to thoughts and recommendations of friends and family, I decided to believe God and what He said in His word (Bible). What He said was “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; too you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29 (KJV).

At no time did I believe, or have faith that this cancer would get better. I did not pray for healing, I did not ask to be healed, I did not even think that such a thing could happen. All I was hoping for, was the apricot seeds I was eating, would raise my blood platelet count. I knew that this one thing, low platelet count, was moving me closer and closer to chemotherapy, and that I did not want. This is the reason, along with believing what God said is true, that started me eating apricot seeds.

Why do I tell you this? Firstly because it is true, secondly because I do not have any great faith that would heal me from this cancer. I do not say this, so as to make others think I am humble; but to let everyone know it is God who is faithful. He is faithful to His word, true to what He says, He is truth. “Examine me O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my heart. For thy loving kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in thy truth.” Psalms 26:2-3.

It is His Word that became flesh, and dwelt among us. It is His Word that says, “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”” Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.”” For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28,29,30.

It is also His Word (Jesus Christ) that said unto her, “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, thought he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25. This same Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” John 14:6.

The best I can say for myself, as to what I decided to do, was what God had written about Abraham. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3.

I know that without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6. I know faith leads to salvation, “for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Esp. 2:8. However in this case, I was not seeking salvation, but trying to prevent chemotherapy. My salvation is already secure, I am loved totally by Him. He will never leave me, nor forsake me.

What I am trying to explain is that God is the one who is always faithful, even when we have little or no faith at all. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring for me. It is God who knows the number of my days, and that I believe. It is He and only He that knows what tomorrow will bring. Whether it be good health or poor health, life or death, I cannot tell.

I conclude with this, that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10.

I received this the other morning, and thought I would share it will all of you. This is something I would like to be able to write, but I am not gifted enough to say it like Pastor John Glenn. What he wrote is as follows:

One of the most serious obstacles we face in American Christianity is the confusion between true spirituality and religiosity. Many people get the two confused because of the natural, human tendency to equate being spiritual with being religious. To them, spirituality is simply a new lifestyle of religious activities such as church attendance, or membership and faithful involvement in a religious organization. Those who regularly engage in such religious activities or rituals are thought to be “spiritual” as opposed to those who do not.

Because of this confusion it is best to operationally define our terms. Religion may be defined as a system of rules and customs based on orthodoxy that is generally imposed on individuals who are born into the system and raised to obey its practices without question. It has a tendency to formalize, ritualize, and legalize individual experience and expression of spirituality; and is generally concerned with understanding and applying some form of spirituality to improve the human experience while also reinforcing the religious rules and customs.

Spirituality, on the other hand, is more fundamental than the various religions that may grow out of it. It is highly personal, unique to the individual, experienced from within, and cannot be explained or contained in a system of rules and customs. It is rooted in the spiritual nature of the individual, not in the collective experience of the culture. At its core, spirituality is the recognition of a spiritual reality, the personal realization of that spiritual reality, and the expression of reverence for that which is spiritual.

Because true spirituality is so vital to functional living and healthy relationships, it should come as no surprise that the enemy would seek to undermine it with a counterfeit. In an effort to maintain our false identify in the flesh, the carnal mind immediately seeks to feign acceptability and, therefore, worth by turning all of its attention to becoming religious. It is all too happy to “dress itself up and take itself to church”. There it can engage in its own plan of self improvement for its own glory. Remember, false assumptions of personal worth don’t always look false! The evil thoughts of “I will be worthy if… can be completed with good looking religious activities such as church attendance, worship activities, and outward compliance with a moral set of standards. The end result of such infantile thinking in the baby Christian is what Paul warned as “falling from grace”. Such was the case for the Pharisees of Jesus day.

In this sense religion has always been the enemy of the cross of Christ. Biblical history records many examples of the terrible consequences of religiosity beginning with Cain murdering his brother, Abel. The fleshly attempt of Sarah and Abraham to fulfill the promise of God through their own natural means; the repeated failure of Israel as a nation to keep the law of Moses; the rejection and persecution of the prophets; and the continual opposition of the Pharisees to the grace and truth of Christ all illustrate the historical tendency toward and dangers of religiosity.

Satan being able to transform himself into an “angel of light” and his servants into “ministers of the gospel” demonstrates the deception of religiosity. His most subtle lies are based on “half-truths” that often sound religious and on the surface appear to be good. The “seducing spirits” Paul warns of in 2 Timothy are religious in nature suggesting that we may guarantee our worth as persons by a flurry of religious activities, emotional experiences, and intellectual insights. The blinding power of Satan always involves turning our attention away from the good news of all that God has done for us to focus on what we need to do, feel, or think to make ourselves worthy. This is the core of religiosity that literally denies the gospel and blasphemes the work of Christ on our behalf. As a result, most of the historical crimes against humanity were committed in the name of religion (witness the period of crusades as well as the modern day jihads).

True spirituality, however, is based on an authentic faith in what God has, is, and will do for us to make us worthy as persons. Such faith produces a genuine hope (confident expectation of our future) that allows us to care about someone besides ourselves. True spirituality is simply trusting God to meet our own needs so that we can be used of him to meet the needs of others. Those who are “spiritual” are those who are indwelled by the Spirit God and experience his personal comfort and direction in their lives. Ironically enough, true spirituality doesn’t look very religious at all. That’s why it was the religious people who cried “crucify him!”

I thought I would again post my paper on “Why Disease, Hatred, Sickness and Death.” For many who have read it before, know it is my testimony of why I believe I have SLL/CLL, and what really happened. I last posted this paper Sept. 2011, and since then made some revisions. For those of you who have already read it, you will find additions, and hopefully I have made it a little easier to understand my thoughts.

Around the country, we continue to hear about the economic recession, and job loss. Around the world we hear about the latest terrorist attacks. Innocent children are dying of starvation, people are dying of cancer, heart disease, and so on. What in the world has gone wrong? How could a good God create a world so full of disease, pain and death? Pain and suffering afflict even the most seemingly innocent people. Animals rip other animals apart in a desperate attempt to survive. How could any rational person think a benevolent being was behind so much death and suffering?

I have SLL/CLL, that is small lymphocyte lymphoma/chronic lymphocyte leukemia. A cancer in the lymphodes and blood. There is no current cure for these cancers. So why did I get cancer? Some have asked, “Why do you have cancer?” You have been a Christian for 33 years, you have told other about Christ, taught Sunday school, even preached in some churches. I thought God loved you, you are part of His family, why would He do this thing to you?

Well is it God who did this to me, or is it something else that did? The following is what really happened!

Lets take a look at what God did do. Day 1&2 – God created the heavens and the earth and separated the waters from the waters, and He saw that it was good. Day 3 – He made dry land, and saw that it was good, then grass, trees, seed, and saw that it was good. Day 4 – He made the sun, moon, stars, and saw that it was good. Day 5 – God created birds and fish, and saw that it was good. Day 6 – Animals, man and woman were made by Him, and He saw everything He had made, and behold, it was very good.

So what happened? When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. When Adam ate of the fruit, the human race had the death penalty placed on it. God told Adam, to eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. We all have Adams DNA, and we all choose to sin.

The tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – How do we know what is good and what is evil? Where does this knowledge come from? The law, commandments, came by Moses. We also learn the law and laws, from out parents, then school, then peers, then work, society, and church. All religions have some sort of laws, or rules. Governments have rules and laws, Christians, Athiest, Evolutionist, all have rules and laws. We even know it by nature, it is written on our hearts. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they (we) are without excuse.

But the Law is Good – Is the law of God evil? Of course not! It showed me my sin. When I learned the law, I realized I had broke it. So the law that was to show me life, gave me the death penalty instead. Sin took a good law and used it to make me guilty, so death pursued. But the law didn’t change, it is still holy, right, and good. How can that be, the law that is good, brought my condemnation. It didn’t, sin used what was good to bring condemnation. That’s how terrible sin really is. The law is good then, the trouble is with me, because I have sin as my master. So by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. So what is the conclusion for sin?

THE WAGES OF SIN, OR OUR PAYMENT FOR SIN IS DEATH.

So why do I, and others get cancer that has no cure, and can and does cause death? Why are you going to die? Whether from old age, accidents, diseases, war, you name it, all of us, and those who are considered the very best of us will die. Why? Because of the law, which gave us the knowledge of sin, which Adam and all of us chose by disobeying God. So I must conclude that God didn’t cause me to have cancer, my race and I chose it.

These are the facts as I see and read them. No scare tactics, not trying to get you to live a better life. Why, even when we try, we fail daily and completely more often than not. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. So we can all conclude that no one does good, we try, but we fail, why, because we are born in sin, born self centered, self important, wanting, etc.

There’s got to be a better way? Yes, there is, Jesus said – “I am the resurrection and the life, anyone that believes in me, though you were dead, yet shall you live.” This is good news, true news, needed news, and eternal life giving news. Do you realize that the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, and knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Question: so what happens when some one asks Christ to save them? We are buried with Jesus by baptism into death, and as Christ was raised up from the dead, we are raised with Him. (This is not the physical water baptism we see in churches.) So if we are with Him in death, we will be with Him in His resurrection. Knowing this, our old man is crucifed with Him, we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death has no more dominion over Him. Christ died unto sin once, and now lives unto God. So realize that your are dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Yes, but I still sin. Sin still persists, because you and I still have these physical bodies. Our cursed physical bodies have not died yet. (We still have physical death, sickness, disease, and so on.) It is our cursed and eternal sinful spirit that I am talking about.

God said that He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

We are a new creation in Christ, born again with a new nature, God now sees our new nature, even though we are still stuck in our physical bodies. Notice that I said “God now see our new nature. He only sees Christ in us, His Spirit in us, and our born again spirit in Him, perfect, loved, loving, sinless, that will live forever. So then, it is my old body, my physical body (sins of the flesh) that is going to die. It is the sins of the flesh which is still under the law, and is emnity with God, that will die. In Christ, God only sees you and me as righteous, as Christ is righteous. My new man, my new nature, my spirit, in my new body, is what is living forever, and not just forever, but forever with Christ.

So how do I ask Christ to save me? Repent and believe. What does it mean to repent? To change direction 180 degrees. In other words, change what you believe, and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some become Christians, and to change (repent), start going to church, try feeding the poor, give to charity, and on and on (by the way, these are good things, and Christians are called to love and help others). But after awhile, we tire of doing these things. our feelings may have been hurt by another Christian, we are young in our Christian walk, and believe things that others tell us, things that God does not say in His word. Things become more important, and doing good, becomes less and less a part of our lives. Not only that, but we find sin has reared up its ugly face again, and even worst, we are not only sinning, but we are living with a spirit of self-righteousness, judging others, their life styles, their dress, and even their words. Look, speak out for your values, for your beliefs, share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but only because you love others, not because you condemn them. If your repentence is condemning, you have gone back to that which you have been freed from, the law of the knowledge of good and evil. So be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

To repent, is to stop believing that as a believer, you are under the law of Moses, instead believe now that you are under Gods grace. Christ fulfilled that law, and paid the penalty of death for it, so youare no longer condemned by it. Change what you think, not what you do. God will take care of the doing.

But what if I seek to be made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, and find out that I am still a sinner? Has Christ led me into sin? Of course not! Rather I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law, so that I may live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God. I am not one of those that treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if I could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die. So if you chose to put your faith in Christ, do not at a later time try to become perfect by your own human effort.

What is the Gospel? The good news about Jesus Christ. That Christ came, died, rose again, and anyone who believes in Him, will have eternal life, with Him. It is not more, nor is it nothing less than that. No human religion, no religious acts, no good deeds, nothing but Christ. The Bible declares that the gospel which was preached, is for you to receive, and has been received by many, wherein you may stand. It also states that by this gospel, you also are saved. Just remember what it says, otherwise your belief is in vain. For what was told and then written, and now delivered unto you, and that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.

So I can’t sin anymore. Wow, so I can do anything and it will be okay, right! Many believe that they can sin, because we are not under the law anymore, but under grace. God forbid, know ye not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. But God be thanked, that you were servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being made free from sin, you became servants of righteousness. Once you belong to Christ, and find yourself fighting not to sin, know it is your old nature (fIesh), that wants to sin. Remember you are a new creation in Christ, never having sinned, not sinning now, and will not sin in the future.

I live in this physical body, trying daily to obey the law (commandments), even though I know that my eternal spirit, is no longer judged, nor accused by those laws. I thank God, through Jesus Christ my Lord for that. So then with my spirit, I serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

I must point out here that walking, in the Spirit is characterized by the thoughts, beliefs and attitudes held by each of us, and serving the law of God, only happens by a continual reliance upon the power of the Holy Spirit, not on our ability, to overcome the power of sin in the flesh.

So how does Gods law tell us to live in the Spirit? Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Please note that not everyone who calls themselves Christian, are believers in Christ. Christ said, “many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful things. And then Christ will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” Christ does not say, look I knew you, but you screwed up, so you are not saved anymore, no He does not say that. He says I never knew you.

The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel, these are Christ words. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. So please remember, the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

What does that mean? Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. We live our lives under the law, we then ask Jesus to save us, He does, then we try to do good things, we work to keep our salvation. We usually fail, give up, and worry that we might not be saved. Yes as I said earlier, do good works, but don’t count it for righteousness. Work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure. Notice we are not told here to work for our salvation, but to work it out, or demonstrate its reality in our daily lives. Our salvation must be entirely received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, or else it is not true salvation. Inclusive yes, but it is not me that said that, it is Jesus Christ himself that did. “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me.” Again Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, anyone that believe in me, though they were dead, yet shall they live.” Yes it is inclusive, but free for all to join, so tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you join me in this story, don’t try to make anyone believe it, nor condemn them if they don’t, just tell them.

Sanctify the Lord in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to anyone who asks you a reason of your hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Christ and only Christ saves, nothing else. My eternal spirit will live forever, in my new resurrected body (I trust Christ only). How about you? Some will live forever with Christ, and some will live with the spirit of the old man, old sinful nature, paying the wages of sin by living an eternal spiritual death, separated from Christ, cursing the fact that they are eternal beings, in a bottomless pit, with no way out. The bottomless pit that was made for fallen angels, but many of us chose to go there also.

The Bible has something to say about this choice. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things that were written in the books, according to their works, and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, everyone according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.

Those who are in prisons, that is behind bars, or those who are behind bars in their own mind, fears, emotions, and diseases, know the burden of the law first hand. It takes away many freedoms, dreams, joys, and much more. This life is sometimes hard for us, and for some, very hard, but what’s to come, may be harder, and definitely longer. Who wants this for an eternity!

If the opportunity ever arises, please read Luke 16:19-31 and then answer this question: Will you be the one who will not be persuaded, neither will one raised from the dead, persuade you.

But not as the offense, so also is the free gift; for if by the offense of one, many did die, much more the grace of God, and the free gift in grace of the man Jesus Christ, abound to many.

Speak the truth with humility and love. Walk in the same way Christ did. Christ tells His disciples just before He left, “A new commandment I give unto you, love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another, and this is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.

We live in a world of choas, hurricanes, tornado’s, floods, sickness, children starving, wars, people killing each other. Do you now, or can you now see that it is not God who causes or caused these things, but man. When God created everything, on those first six days, He said everything was good, very good.

The judgement on man, which affects the whole universe, came when man freely chose to disobey, and sin and death entered into man, and all creation was cursed. We must conclude with this, disease, pain and death, innocent children dying, people dying of cancer, heart disease, is not because of what God did, but because of what we, as a human race did, and do now to ourselves, and others. It is you and I who are part of that race. But thank God for Jesus Christ, who came, was born a human, died as a human, paying the death penalty for sin, for the human race. Then rose again, bodily, defeating death forever. So I conclude that I have cancer, not because of what God did, but because of what I, as part of the human race did. I thank God for Jesus Christ who came, was born, died, and rose again, all this for you and me.

Tough: Able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking. Resilient, firm in texture, but flexible and not brittle. Able to withstand adverse conditions, or rough or careless handling. Will bend, twist, without tearing or breaking. Does anyone see a difference between the two?

Learn to hang around with the one who is really tough. He left glory, cloaked His glory, became a man, falsely accused, found guilty of breaking the law. Beaten, cut, stabbed, laughed at, mocked, nailed to a cross, only said, forgive them Father, they know not what they do. This same man could have weakened, broke, and destroyed everything and everyone, just with speaking only a word. but chose instead to be tough. Why? because he cared about you and me so much, that He would die, so we may live. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.